Vanilla Plant

Carphephorus odoratissimus

Size: 1 Gallon Availability

Flower
Max size: 4’ tall

Occasional Moist, Moist to Dry
Sand
Sun, Part shade
No salt tolerance

Vanilla plants bloom in summer in purple. They are winter dormant, and as their leaves dry they emit a vanilla scent when crushed. They do not need pruned but can be cut back in winter after they dry. They are not edible. They spread slowly by adding pups next to mature plants. Attracts many bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Documented species of bees include Augochlorella aurata, Dianthidium floridiense, Coelioxys octodentata, C. sayi, Megachile albitarsis, M. inimica and Bombus pennsylvanicus.